Gear shift lever horn button system



Jan. 24, 1933. E. T. NESTER GEAR SHIFT LEVER HORN BUTTON SYSTEM Filed Feb. 24. 1931 E: arrive-@2611,

INVENTOR X ZZZ/0W ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 24, 1933 ELTIJAH r, nns'rnn, or HrLL'svILLE, V RGINI f GEAR smr'r mvmn aawmea SYSTEM. p 3

Application filed February 251931,; seria t a e995} This invention relates to new and useful improvements in switches primarily designed v for application upon the hand engaging knobs of gear shiftlevers for the closing of motor 5 vehicleannunciators in circuit with the source of electrical energy therefor.

More specifically stated the switch is so disposed upon the hand engaging portion of the lever as to preclude any possibility of the annunciator being operated each time the lever is grasped and shifted.

By the arrangement of a switch of this character at the place designated, the transmission and annunciator of a vehicle may be more conveniently controlled without changing the hands from the steering wheel to the shift lever. In the great majority of instances, the driver in heavy traffic shifts gears in passing other vehicles, his hand is already 29 on the gear shift, thus it would be more convenient for him to blow the horn from this position than to be forced to raise his hand to the steering wheel.

It is also apparent that a switch miember for this purpose located upon the gear shift lever could be employed to useful effect when ascending steep curves and the like where it is necessary to sound an annunciator before making the turn.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention further consists of the following novel features and details of construction, to be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a motor vehicle gear shift lever illustrating by dotted lines the arrangement of the contact wires for the switch.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken through the gear shift rod and knob therefor showing the switch construction and mounting therefor.

Figure 3 isa sectional view taken on 33 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing in detail wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts, the reference character 10 indicates generally a conventional form'of gear 45 line shift leve'r'having a'fcoupling 11 for connectmg; the lower end thereof with 'a transmission hou'smg 12; Said lever or sliift'is drilled or otherwise-provided with a "longitudinal bore 13 forthe accommodationof an electrical conduit 14' housing a 'conducting wire 15. The lowermost end of the conduit projects through} the lever above the joint 11 and is connected," asat 16,-withaleadwi're 17 having'communication with an annunciator, not shown.

knob or handengaging portion, such as ndicated at 18, having an attaching bushmg 19, is threadedly secured in the manner suggested in Figure 2 of the drawing upon the uppermost end of the gear shift lever 10. Said lever falls short of extending for any great depth within the body .of the gear shift knob 18 for the purpose of seating a dielectric member or. insulator 20. Said insulator is cut away upon the periphery thereof to facilitate V passage of suitableportions of the electrical conduit 14 between same and the immediate portion of the knob 18 whereby the uppermost extremity of the wire 15 may be disposed an appreciable distance above the insulator. A plunger member 21, mounted for reciprocating motion within a counter bore 22 having communication with the pocket 23 in the knob 18 within which the insulator 20 is housed, is provided with an annular shoulder or flange 24, forming a, stop to restrict projection of the plunger member 21 in excess to that illustrated in Figure 2. A cupshaped contact member 25, accommodating the flange 2 1, has connection with the mentioned end of the wire 15. A compression spring 26, interposed between the cup-shaped contact member 25 and the insulator 20 and seated within a pocket 27 formed in the latter, normally and yieldably retains the plunger member 21 to occupy the Figure 2vposition. A contact finger 28, carried by and extended from thebushing 19 and projected within the pocket 23, terminates to provide an inwardly 95. projecting offset extremity located in the path of movement of the plunger member 21 for contacting engagement with the cupshaped member 25 whereby the circuit will be closed or grounded and the annunciator 99 in electrical connection therewith Will be set in motion.- 7

The invention is susceptible of various changes in its form, proportions and minor details of construction and the right is herein reserved to make such changes as properly I fall withinthe scope of the appended claim. Having, described the invention, What is claimed is: V I 0 In combination with an automobile gear shift lever, a bushing ofelectric conducting material having contact With the lever and provided with-a contact finger, a knob of insulating material surrounding the bushing and enclosing the finger thereof, a plunger slidable in'the knob, an insulator located Within the knob and disposed against thev end of the lever, a spring interposedbetween theplungerand the, insulator, a flange carried '61 by the plunger, a conductor Wire threaded through the lever j and connected with the flange, said flange, adapted to engage the con- 7 tact finger when the plunger is depressed. In testimony whereof I aifix my signature. 7 r ELIJAHT. NESTER; 

